EVERETT — A majority of the Snohomish County Council voted on Wednesday to freeze the budget for the courthouse project until they decide what they want to build — if anything.
Council members Dave Somers, Terry Ryan and Ken Klein supported the action. Council members Stephanie Wright and Brian Sullivan abstained from voting.
The move halts work to scout alternative courthouse locations outside of Everett, as county Executive John Lovick has proposed.
More courthouse decisions are expected during the council’s 10:30 a.m. meeting on Monday. That could include directing staff to study back-up plans. Somers earlier this week suggested revisiting a plan to remodel the existing 1967 courthouse and build a new three- or four-story wing, but some court officials doubt that would solve many of the old building’s security and safety problems.
The county this summer cancelled construction of an eight-story, $162 million courthouse building that had been planned across the street from the county’s administrative complex in downtown Everett. Elected officials have blamed potential budget problems and disagreements with Everett city officials for torpedoing those plans.
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